On politics in the Golden State

Whitman downplays White House ambitions

July 27, 2010 | 8:36
am

Appearing on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday,
Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman emphasized her tenure as
chief executive of EBay, saying her experience at the company gave her
insight into the conditions needed for small businesses
to thrive. And she said she had no plans to run for higher office if she were elected governor.

"Hundreds of thousands of individuals made most,
if not all, of their living selling on EBay,” Whitman said. “I saw
exactly what was required for small business to grow and thrive. If
California is going to be led out of this recession,
it’s going to have to be led out by small business."

She added: "EBay was the platform for average
Californians and average Americans to build their own business and take
control of their own destiny."

Whitman then outlined her plan for California’s
recovery: Implement tax cuts, streamline regulation and boost
the state’s economic development efforts. She said she supported
extending the Bush tax cuts.

Asked by host George Stephanopoulos how much she
was willing to spend on her campaign, Whitman demurred. “What I designed
is a campaign that is designed to win,” she said. “We’re reaching out
to different groups in California -- Latinos,
women, 18-to 29-year-olds -- all to be part of this campaign. I want to
have a big tent.”

When Stephanopoulos asked her if she had White
House ambitions, Whitman said no.

“I am here to run California. I want to fix
California,” she said. “Where goes California goes the country.”

-- Michael J. Mishak in Sacramento

Photo: Meg Whitman speaks to a reporter following a campaign appearance at a garlic farm in Gilroy, Calif., on July 22, 2010. Credit: Robert Galbraith / Reuters